Automatic air release for air brakes



Nov. 18, 1930. P. A. MANNING ET AL 1,782,268

AUTOMATIC AIR RELEASE FOR AIR BRAKES.

Filed Oct. 10, 1928 Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UN TED STATES PArENToFFtc-E PAUL N1 TING,, OEMAIDISON, 'lLirINOIS, AND JOSEPH w. GATES, or s'r. LOUIS,

1 I JVIISSOURI Au'roMArrc AIRRELEASE Eon" AIR BRAKES Application, filed October 10, 1928. Serial No. 311,670.

The object of the invention is to provide a device adapted for incorporation in the air brake installation of railway cars, whereby when conditions arise making it necessary that the air brake shall not function, as when the section oit'the freight is shot into a siding, the auxiliary reservoir of the air brake installation may be automaticallydischarged,

thus making it unnecessary that trainmen give individual attention to each car for this purpose; to provide a device of the nature above indicated in whlch the rate of discharge from the auxiliary reservoirmay be regulated by proper adjustments, so that the discharge keting cost, and of such a form thatit may be readily applied to existing installations without any modificationsithereof.

Vith this object in View the invention con sists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: V

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the auxiliary reservoir and triple valve of anair brake installation, the inven tion being shown mounted in operative pos1- tion in connection with these parts.

Figure 2 is a central longitu'dinalsectional view of the automatic release device constituting the invention. I

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views on the planes indicated by the lines 33,44-and 5 5 respectively of Figure 2.

The invention consists in an automatic air releasing means for discharging the air'from the auxiliary reservoir lO when the air brakes are to be rendered inactive or'inert, as frequently becomes necessary on freight. cars.

where train sectionsare shot into sidings. Connection is made between the auxlllary reservoir 10 and the train line 11 through the release device constituting the invention, the

latter comprising the cylinder 12 closed at its ends. by threaded caps 14 and 15 being connected-with the train line by suitable pipe connections 16 coupled'to the lower end of the triple valve 17,"the connection with the auxiliary reservoir being by. appropriate pipes and fittingslScoupled to the port provided for the reception ofthe conventional relief cock. 1

'Within the cylinder 12 atthat end closed.

by the cap leis a plug 19, flanged on one end asindicated atj20, this flange sitting on the end of the cylinder and engaging a gasket 21, theclatter being held in contact with the flange by the cap l l and the plugthereby being retained in proper position in the center and the joints made airtight. Axial channel 22 is-formed inthe plug 19,thischannel,constituting the air conduit for the cylinder 10. A check'valve23 is mounted in thechannel t 22, this channel servingtofadmit air from the train line into the cylinder but precluding its escape therefrom at this point; A second, axial channel 24, smaller than the channel 22, is also formed in the plug 19 and this. channel is invaded by a regulating valve 25 consisting of a pointed screw threaded radially"through the cylinder wall and the plug19. Y

That endof the cylinder closed by the cap 15 carries aplug 26 flanged at 27 in the same manner as the plug 19 and retained in posi tion'by the cap 15 with a gasket 28 interposed The plug, 26 is formed withan axial channel 29 to establish comma-.-

between I the two.

nication between the auxiliary reservoir and the interior of the cylinderthrough the pipe connection'18. 2

Movable between the two plugs is a double ended piston consisting of a tubular core 30 formed with terminal disks 31 against which .are seated cupped flexible washers 32,these Washers being retained in; place on the disksv or heads 31 by means of metallic washers 33 through which extends a bolt 34, the bolt extendingflthrough thetubular core and serving as a common attachingmeans for the two cupped washers 32 and their retaining washers 33.

channel 36 is placed directly in communica-' tion with the pipe connection 18 to theauxiliar reservoir throu h a )ort 37' formed in the plug 26 at the flange 27,

In the operation of the invention, when pressure is applied to the train line the triple valve 17' functions in the usual way to permit charging of the auxiliary reservoir 10.

The cylinder 12 also being in communication with the train line, air isadmitted. through the check valve 23.thus moving the double ended piston toward the plug 26, this piston passingand closing the port 35 so that the escape from the auxiliary reservoir is cut ofii.

Thus charging of the auxiliary reservoir takes place not only'through. the triple valve 'butthrough the channel 36 after the piston shall; have passed the point of. communication of thischannelwith the cylinder; With the double ended pistonover against the plug 29 there is balanced: auxiliary reservoir pres? sure on opposite sides ofthe-pistori-through the channel. 29 and through. the channel 36. Inthe setting of the brakes of the train, pressure in the train line 11 is reduced and the auxiliaryreservoir, through the triple valve,

charges the brake cylinders and. sets the.

brake. On reduction of tra-ini line pressure there is established anunbala'nceof. pressure between the auxiliary. reservoir andIthe-train line through the channel 36 and channel 2 1, but the escape of air throng-lithe latter. channel is at sucha slow rate thatthereisnobinterference with the operation of the brake cylinders, because the channel 36 being cr.oss.+sectionallly greater than the channeli24a, auxiliary reservoir pressure is-applied to the train line directly through the latter. only as fast. as air will h e-passed by the valve-25. there is no 't'endency for the double ended Thus piston to move and it retainsits-position. adjacent the plug 26 here asection of: the train is being shot onto a siding,.where-the train line connection will be brokeniatthe point of uncoupling the section, the air brakes on the cars wouldbe set by reasonof the action of the triple valve in difvertihgrthe. air from the auxiliary reservoir into .the brake cylinders, if the auxiliary reservoirhad-r not first been discharged'i Under such a condition the. invention. automatically works. to; discharge the auxiliary reservoir ofeachcar of a. train section, passed onto the sidinm. The brakingof the train line at; the pointof. uncoupling the section attended of coursewith the opening of the angle cock on the terminal car of the section, will result in the reduction of the air line of the section to atmospheric pressure, whereupon the auxiliary reservoir will be discharged first through the channel 36 and channel 24, but since this rate of discharge is slow and since there is a great unbalance of pressure between the air lineunder such conditions and the auxiliary reservoir due to the channel 24 (whatever the setting of the valve 25) bleeding the cylinder at a great enough rate to create this pressure unbalance, the air in the latter auxiliary reservoir will. act directly on the double ended piston, moving it over adjacent the plug 19 and exposing the port 35 through which the air in the auxiliary reservoir is discharged to the atmosphere and the brake cylinders emptied. When the double ended piston passes over to the plug 19, the channel 36 at itspoint of communication with the cylinder 12 is cut off.

The rate at which the double ended piston moves by reason of pressure inv the auxiliary reservoir is dependent upon the discharge of air ahead of itbetween it and the plug 19- and. the valve 25 maybe set. so as to make this discharge relatively high or. relatively low. Where trains are operating in hilly country, therefore, the valve 25 may be set.

to provide a low rate of discharge, so that in the'event of a break in the train, the air brakes may be set by the oaeration of the triple valve and. not releasedv until; after a comparatively long interval of time which will give the crew ample time to set the hand brakes. With the valve 25set to provide a low rate of discharge through the channel 24-, the movement of: the double ended piston,

with the train line reduced to atmospheric pressure, will. be comparatively slow and the time elapsing between the moment at which it starts movement from the plug 26 until it exposes the port 35for the interval in which the air brakes are effective and. the interval when the ban d brakes must be set by the train.

The invention having been described what is claimed as new and useful is:

1-. In combination with the train line and auxiliary reservoir and triple valve of an air brake mechanism, means connecting the auxiliaryreservoirwith the train line and automatically discharging the air from the reservoir uponreduction ot'the train line to atmospheric pressure, said means being adjustable to vary the time interval between the moment of the reduction of the train line to. atmospheric pressure and the instant oi. discharge from the reservoir.

2. In combination with the train line and auxiliary reservoir and; triple valve, therefor of an air brake mechanism-,.meansconnecting the auxiliary reservoir withthe train line and subject to the pressure in the two, said means having an actuated element irresponsive to the reduction of train line pressure.

for service operation but responsive todischarge'the auxiliary reservoirto the 'at1nosphere on reduction of train line pressure to atmosphericpressure. V r

3. In comblnation with the train line and auxiliary reservoir and tri ale valve therefor of an a1r brake mechanism, acylinder term1- nally connected respectively with the aux iliary reservoir and the train line, a double ended piston carried in said cylinder and subjected'to pressure on opposite ends from the train line and reservoir. respectivelyQthe cylinder havingan air port effecting communication betweenits interior and the atmosphere and exposedby the piston in one.

, position of the latter;

4. I11 combination with the train line and aux liary reservoir and triple valve therefor of an air brake mechanism, a'cylinder terminally connected respectively with the auxiliary reservoir and the train line, a double ended piston carried in said cylinder and sub jected to pressure on-op'posite ends from the train line and reservoir respectively, the cylinderhaving an air port effecting co1nmun1- cation between its interior and the atmosphere and exposed by'the piston in one position of the latter,the cylinder having an air channelin communication with the auxiliary reservoir and in communication with the cylinder on that side of the piston exposed to train line pressure except in the exposed posi-,

tion of the air port.

5, In combination with the train line and auxiliary reservoir and triple valve therefor.

of an air brake mechanism, a cylinder terminally connected respectively with the auxiliaryreservoir and the train line, a double ended piston carried in said cylinder and subjected to pressure on opposite ends from the train line and reservoir respectively, the cylinder havlng an a1r port effecting communr cation between its. interior and the atmosphere and exposed by the piston in one posi-j tion ofthelatter, the cylinder having an air channel in communication with the auxiliary reservoir and incommunic'ation with the cylinder on that side of the plston exposed to tra n line pressure except 1n the exposed pos1 tion of the air port, that end of the cylinder inder having an air port effecting communication between'its interior and'the atmosphere and exposed by the piston in one position of the latter, the cylinder having an air channel in communication with the auxiliary reservoir and in communication with the cyl-,

inder on that side of the piston exposed to train linepressure except in the exposed position of the air port, that end of the cylinder exposed to'train line pressure being provided with an adjustablevalve for regulating the rate for equalization of pressure in the 'air cylinder and trainline when there is-a' re.--

duction' in the latter, that end of the cylinder exposed to'train line pressure being provided with. a check valve controlling communication between the train line and the cylinderand opening towards the latter.

In testimony whereof they afiix their signaturesfi PAUL A. MANNING.

JOSEPH W. GATES. 

